S/PV.9938 Security Council

I would like to warmly welcome the Secretary-General, the ministers and the other high-level representatives present in the Security Council Chamber. Their presence today underscores the importance of the subject matter under discussion. Before each member is a list of speakers who have requested to participate in accordance with rules 37 and 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, as well as the previous practice of the Council in this regard. We propose that they be invited to participate in this meeting. There being no objection, it is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2025/349, which contains a letter dated 2 June 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General. I now give the floor to the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. António Guterres.

I thank the Government of Guyana for convening this important debate. The theme they chose highlights a fundamental fact: sustainable peace requires sustainable development. The flames of conflict are too often lit and fed by persistent poverty and growing inequalities. Time and again, we have seen conflict engulfing lives and institutions, wiping out development gains and uprooting millions of people. At the same time, we have seen how poverty, underdevelopment, inequality, injustice, hunger and exclusion can light the fuse of instability and conflict. Poverty breeds despair, despair fuels unrest, and unrest tears at the fabric of societies, feeding mistrust, fear and violence. When people are denied opportunity, when human rights are violated and impunity persists, when crime and corruption thrive, when climate chaos displaces and destabilizes and when terrorism finds fertile ground in weak institutions, peace can quickly become a distant dream. It is no coincidence that 9 of the 10 countries with the lowest Human Development Indicators are currently in a state of conflict. Forty per cent of the 700 million people living in extreme poverty live in conflict-affected or fragile settings. And the situation is only getting worse. Conflicts are proliferating and lasting longer, displacing more than 120 million people from their homes — an unprecedented number of individuals with disrupted lives and futures. Solutions are in short supply because of rampant geopolitical mistrust and divisions. The global economy is slowing, trade tensions are rising, and budgets are being slashed while military spending soars. If current trends continue, two thirds of the world’s poor will live in conflict-affected or fragile countries by 2030. The message is clear: the farther a country is from sustainable and inclusive development, the closer it is to instability and even conflict. Development gives peace a fighting chance. It is the first line of defence against conflict. But right now, we are losing ground. After decades of steady progress, we are facing a development emergency. Ten years after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, two thirds of the targets are lagging. The world is falling short by more than $4 trillion annually in the resources developing countries need to deliver on these promises by 2030. And developing countries are being battered and bruised by limited fiscal space, crushing debt burdens and skyrocketing prices. The engine of development is sputtering. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, starting next week, will be an important moment for the world to fix and strengthen this essential engine. We must renew domestic and global commitments to get public and private finance flowing to the areas of greatest need. We need to provide urgent debt relief for countries drowning in unsustainable debt service. And we must reform the global financial architecture to reflect today’s realities and the urgent needs of developing countries. At its core, this plan is about supporting countries as they advance both peace and sustainable development, to ensure food security, education, healthcare, decent work and social protections; to invest in green technology and resilience to climate disasters and shocks; to build roads, and water and food systems; to deliver electricity to all; to close the digital divide and expand internet access to all, while guarding against the perils of new technologies; to build justice and governance systems people can trust; and to open the doors of participation so women and young people can build a more equitable, peaceful and sustainable future. (spoke in French) Peace is not built in conference rooms. Peace is built in classrooms, in clinics and in communities. Peace is built when people have hope, opportunity and a true future that is in their hands. Investing in development today means investing in a more peaceful tomorrow. Let us re-commit to the solidarity and multilateral spirit that has defined our Organization across eighty years, and let us ensure that the dividends of peace, prosperity and security are shared by all.

I thank the Secretary-General for his statement. I now give the floor to Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary- General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Development Programme. Ms. Wignaraja: I thank the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana for convening this important debate. It is an honour to join the Security Council on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the conversation could not be more prescient. Global human development has stalled just as violent conflicts have surged to levels The 2025 UNDP Human Development Report shows the sharpest global drop in human development in more than two decades. For the first time in 35 years, progress in human development has slowed so significantly that more than half of world’s poorest countries have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels. This means that more than a billion people live in acute multidimensional poverty, nearly half in contexts affected by conflict or fragility. These figures are not just statistics  — they are warnings. Every time governance and development falters — and the two are closely interwoven, based on the choices and decisions leaders take vis-à-vis their people, their neighbours and sometimes countries far from their own borders — when these international and local social contracts fail, conflict gains ground. From Gaza to Myanmar, from the Sudan to Afghanistan, it shows that conflict hits gross domestic product (GDP) fast and drives a deeper level of poverty and despair that is not seen in more usual economic slowdowns. In Myanmar, for example, UNDP’s analysis shows that urban poverty in Yangon alone surged from 10 per cent to 43 per cent in just the last few years. The International Monetary Fund’s messaging is also clear: every $1 invested in prevention can save up to $103 in ballooning conflict-related costs, quell humanitarian needs and make progress on lost economic output. Let me offer three priorities for investment that can help break this cycle, based on practice on the ground, or at least pause it to allow peace negotiations and interventions to be realized. The first priority is directly protecting the household economy. In fragile settings, where peace and security have been shattered, development that goes directly to the local level becomes the first line of peoples’ defence and survival and their hope for recovery. From these local economies — when livelihoods are restored, water and electricity flows again, women’s businesses in particular re-open, farmers can trade food and there is basic finance to allow markets to stay afloat — come the resources to build back broken capabilities and resilience. In Afghanistan, for example, UNDP has supported more than 80,000 women entrepreneurs. These micro- and small businesses have directly created jobs for approximately half a million people, generating income and independence for 2.7 million people. What stronger illustration of the need for investing in people’s ability to navigate crisis could there be? And this cannot be done through short-term relief. The second priority is addressing the climate crisis through the lens of human security. Climate change, as we know, is a crisis amplifier, which compounds vulnerabilities and is driving people to move in the millions to find arable land, shelter, food and water. We are seeing the mounting displacement this is causing around the world. In Nigeria, climate-peace hubs are now addressing the root causes of insecurity in the country’s north-west. These hubs provide climate resilience data systems and are incubating green jobs for youth and women in places such as Katsina and Sokoto. In Rakhine State, in Myanmar, what peace is there, if there always looms the threat of famine, compounded by a civil war, as is the case today? Integrating climate-driven adaptation and risk reduction, with investments in food, water and renewable energy systems — and I emphasize systems — is a must. The third priority is addressing these pressures well beyond national borders. These compounded risks travel fast, and today we see the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime analysis that shows that these accelerants drive illegal activity across borders, using parts of regions that have less rule of law and security. Take Haiti and its surrounding seas, the Sahel region and an expanded lucrative drug trade and human trafficking through the Golden Triangle today. And yet, development interventions bring hope. In the Lake Chad Basin, every 1 euro in core funding In closing, for UNDP and the United Nations development system, building peace means creating conditions that prevent conflict. And these foundations can and will continue to shake with the meltdowns of economies, governance changes and resource scarcity driven by climate change. And they will shake and break due to wars and conflicts. But that does not mean we give up and stop investing in development. On the contrary, it must remain an ongoing, intentional global project, so to speak, to keep building back people’s capabilities and their institutions that ensure stability and put back human development progress, social cohesion, trust in leadership and functioning institutions. This why, for agencies such as UNDP, more than half of annual expenditure now goes to fragile and crisis-affected contexts. And we see the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development  — which the Secretary-General mentioned — and the ongoing peacebuilding architecture review as a timely opportunity to strengthen the role of development actors in addressing the structural causes of conflict and to align efforts across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus. We welcome Guyana’s leadership in advancing the climate, peace and security agenda and reaffirming the need to invest in inclusive, climate-smart and risk-informed human development, which is to invest in peace and to bring people safely home.

I thank Ms. Wignaraja for her briefing. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Mr. Youssouf: On behalf of the African Union Commission, I convey our sincere appreciation to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana for convening this high-level open debate on a theme of profound strategic importance. It reflects a bold recognition that the root causes of conflict  — poverty, inequality and underdevelopment  — must be squarely addressed if we are to preserve international peace and security in a meaningful and sustainable way. This conversation echoes the very foundations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, our blueprint for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens. At the heart of Agenda 2063 is the recognition that Africa’s development is inextricably linked with its peace and stability, and that we must tackle the structural conditions that perpetuate fragility, marginalization and violence. Poverty and underdevelopment are not merely symptoms — they are enablers of conflict. They create spaces of despair in which extremist ideologies, criminal networks and cycles of violence find fertile ground. The hard reality is that, wherever the guns are loudest, human development is weakest. In turn, where poverty and exclusion persist, peace remains elusive. This is precisely why the African Union launched the flagship initiative Silencing the Guns in Africa. This initiative is not simply about disarmament or ending armed conflict. It is a comprehensive agenda for eliminating the socioeconomic and governance conditions that fuel violence, especially in fragile and conflict-affected areas. Silencing the Guns recognizes that we cannot bomb our way to peace. Instead, we must invest in justice, dignity and opportunity. It is a call to shift from crisis response to conflict prevention, from managing violence to transforming the conditions that give rise to it. The initiative calls on all stakeholders — member States, regional economic communities, civil society, youth and international partners — to work in concert to prevent conflicts, mediate disputes and rebuild lives and livelihoods. Central to this effort is tackling poverty not as an afterthought, but as a security imperative. We know, for instance, that in regions where access to education, Africa loses billions of dollars annually to conflict, resources that could otherwise be channelled into schools, hospitals, infrastructure and innovation. Conflict robs children of their education, communities of their cohesion, and economies of their momentum. If we are serious about breaking the cycle of violence, then we must build peace through development and develop through peace. We must also acknowledge that poverty and underdevelopment are not confined within national borders, nor are their consequences. These are global challenges that demand a global response — one rooted in justice, equity and shared responsibility. If we are to uphold international peace and security, we must address the systemic imbalances — economic, political and institutional  — that continue to fuel deprivation, exclusion and instability across regions. The African Union urges the international community to enhance support to African-led peace operations, in particular those deployed in regions in which poverty and underdevelopment are deeply entrenched. This includes providing predictable and sustainable financing through United Nations-assessed contributions. Peace efforts that are not backed by adequate resources risk reinforcing the very vulnerabilities they seek to address. Furthermore, we reiterate the urgent need to reform the architecture of global governance. Africa must have a rightful voice and a meaningful role in shaping the decisions that affect its peace and development trajectory. Our continent must no longer be seen only as a theatre of crisis, but as a contributor to global solutions and an equal partner in building a more just and secure world. The Silencing the Guns initiative speaks directly to this objective. It is not just about ending conflict, it is a long-term strategy to address the structural root causes of violence, in particular poverty, inequality and the persistent denial of opportunity. Every child denied access to education, every young person without employment and every community left behind by development represents a risk to stability and a lost opportunity for peace. We must therefore recommit ourselves to bold and coordinated action that addresses the root causes of conflict with the same urgency that we devote to their consequences. Our response must be transformative, guided not only by security imperatives but also by a profound sense of moral and development urgency. On behalf of the African Union, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to work closely with the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the wider United Nations membership and all partners to end poverty, prevent conflict and build a peaceful, just, and resilient global order in which no one is left behind.

I thank Mr. Youssouf for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Guyana. We meet today amid immense challenges to international peace and security. This is manifested in the unprecedented number of conflicts and growing tensions in many parts of the world, where peace is becoming increasingly fragile. As challenges to international peace and security evolve, so too must our approach to resolving I thank the Secretary-General António Guterres for his insightful perspectives offered on this important topic. I also thank Assistant Secretary-General Ms. Kanni Wignaraja of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and His Excellency Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, for their contributions. Peace and security cannot be divorced from development. Poverty and underdevelopment are common features across many of the situations of which the Security Council is seized. As a matter of course, the Council must also apply a development lens in carrying out its mandate. This has been acknowledged by the Council on several occasions. For example, in January 1992, in a presidential statement issued at the first meeting of the Security Council held at the level of Heads of State and Government (S/23500), the Council affirmed that peace and prosperity are indivisible and that lasting peace and stability will require effective international cooperation for the eradication of poverty and the promotion of a better life for all in larger freedom. This remains relevant today — perhaps even more so as global development challenges are deepening. We should all be concerned that 83 per cent of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals will not be met by 2030. This is borne out in UNDP’s recent multidimensional poverty index, which highlighted that 1.1 billion people still live in multidimensional poverty, with almost half a billion residing in countries affected by violent conflict. Moreover, the 2025 World Social Report warned that an escalation of ongoing conflicts or the emergence of new conflicts would lead to further setbacks in the global effort to eradicate poverty and address underdevelopment. The world therefore stands at a critical juncture, at which the interlinkages between peace, security and development have never been more pronounced. This requires collective and decisive action. In this context, I proffer the following points for consideration. Prioritizing only political solutions in conflicts in which poverty and underdevelopment feature prominently will not lead to a comprehensive and sustainable peace. It is equally critical to create conditions for socioeconomic stability and well-being. We must therefore address, inter alia, lack of economic opportunities, lack of access to education, unemployment and exclusion. It is also important to strengthen national institutions as part of peacebuilding efforts, including those institutions that foster social and economic development. Our global institutions must support these efforts. We have been speaking for decades about the need for reform of international financial institutions. We must also see this reform as important for peace and security. In fact, there is truth in the saying that being poor is expensive, since developing countries expend more to access finance. The global financial architecture should be more responsive to the needs of developing countries as a whole, in particular countries transitioning out of conflict. This is critical for derisking and resilience building. I underscore, for example, the International Monetary Fund’s conclusion that every $1 spent on conflict prevention in countries with recent violence could save up to $103 in costs. Sound macroeconomic policies and international support for these policies can play key roles in conflict prevention. This should be an element in the Council’s early recovery efforts. This brings me to my next point: the participation of women and youth as part of a broader approach to peace and security. Currently, the global youth population is the highest in history, with most young people concentrated in developing countries. For I also underscore that concerted and determined action that addresses the root causes of conflicts requires a comprehensive approach to women’s involvement in peace and security issues, as the Council has long recognized. As the United Nations observes the eightieth year since its establishment, we must reaffirm equally the three pillars on which this Organization is built and the interconnection between those pillars. In the ongoing engagements on reform of the United Nations in the context of the UN80 Initiative, we should ensure that any recalibration does not result in reducing the United Nations role in global development, peace and security, and human rights. Greater coordination and complementarity within the United Nations system on these issues are critical. The Security Council cannot operate in silos. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

The Republic of Korea commends Guyana, which holds the presidency of the Security Council, for convening this open debate. I also thank the Secretary-General for sharing his valuable insights and Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Wignaraja and Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf for their informative briefings. This year marks the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations, yet the world is experiencing its most conflict-ridden period since the Second World War, and many of today’s crises cannot be attributed solely to geopolitical or ethnic tensions. Beneath the surface of these crises lie deeper root causes and drivers of conflict such as poverty, underdevelopment, inequality and weak governing institutions. These structural issues are further compounded by climate change and food insecurity. There is no doubt about the importance of addressing these challenges in an integrated and coherent manner, taking into account both the security and development pillars. Korea’s own development experience over the past seven decades serves as a compelling testament to this nexus. And it is from this experience that we know that the three pillars of the United Nations — namely peace and security, development and human rights — are equally important, interlinked and mutually reinforcing. In this regard, I would like to highlight the following points today, from the perspective of the Security Council. First, the Council should further leverage the complementary role of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in promoting sustaining peace. The PBC’s unique convening and bridging role is an essential part of the international community’s peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts. Through its advisory function, the PBC can contribute to incorporating long-term peacebuilding considerations into the Council’s deliberations. A notable example is the drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Liberia in 2018, during which the PBC contributed to the Secretary- General’s peacebuilding plan at the Council’s request, under resolution 2333 (2016). We look forward to the upcoming peacebuilding architecture review as a key opportunity to advance such complementarity. Korea will continue to foster such collaboration in our capacity as the informal coordinator between the Security Council and the PBC. Secondly, the Council should make efforts to reflect elements of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus in United Nations peace operation mandates Thirdly, the Council should take into account the views of different stakeholders to gain a deeper and context-specific understanding of conflicts. It is essential to heed the voices of women, youth and civil society in peace processes, as they offer insights into the root causes of conflict and provide valuable guidance for addressing them effectively. Fourthly, the Council should draw upon the expertise and responsibilities of regional and subregional organizations. Given the complex and multifaceted nature of today’s challenges, sustainable peace and development cannot be achieved by the United Nations alone. These organizations are often trusted actors with both the proximity and the capacity to respond effectively, as demonstrated by the African Union’s Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Special Envoy’s engagement in Myanmar, and the Caribbean Community’s support for Haiti. Such strategic partnerships can better inform the Council’s decisions by anchoring them in local realities for a more effective response to conflicts and crises. In conclusion, the Republic of Korea has much to share with the international community from its concurrent journey of economic development and political democratization. We reaffirm our strong commitment to contributing to our shared goal of sustaining peace through a holistic and inclusive approach. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I want to start by thanking the Secretary-General and our briefers today. The United Kingdom is grateful to Guyana for convening this important open debate, underlining the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment. At the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the understanding that human rights, peace and security, and development are deeply interlinked and mutually reinforcing. The theme of Guyana’s Council tenure “Partnering for peace and prosperity”, reminds us of the importance of working together to address these challenges effectively. I will make three points. First, we need to equip the United Nations system to deliver more integrated solutions to these challenges, especially in fragile and conflict-affected States. This means aligning humanitarian, development, and peace and security efforts, targeting the drivers of conflict and using robust analysis and early warning systems to shape the United Nations responses. And it means strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the international financial institutions. We should seize the opportunities offered by the UN80 Initiative to drive this approach forward. Secondly, Member States agreed in the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1) that we need to strengthen national conflict prevention strategies. The United Kingdom welcomes the initiatives taken by the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund to support countries to this end. And we hope that Thirdly, as the Secretary-General highlighted, local ownership and inclusivity are key to fostering sustainable development and enduring peace. As we mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Council’s landmark resolution on women and peace and security (resolution 1325 (2000)), it remains vital to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in political and peace processes. I echo your emphasis, Mr. President, on this aspect. The United Kingdom is proud to have partnered closely with Guyana in this area, including in the development of Guyana’s own National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. It is all too evident that poverty and underdevelopment can exacerbate the drivers of conflict. The world’s poorest people are particularly vulnerable to the immediate harms caused by conflict. And conflict sets back development gains, often for decades, as the Secretary-General reminded us. The United Kingdom is committed to working with all partners and stakeholders to ensure that the United Nations system can support coordinated responses to these interlinked challenges.

At the outset, let me express our sincere gratitude to the Guyanese presidency for convening this timely and important debate. Your leadership in bringing these deeply interconnected issues to the forefront is highly appreciated and reflects profound wisdom and vision. I thank the Secretary-General, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Development Programme for their insightful contributions to and valuable perspectives in our debate today. As a proud African nation, it is a privilege to join this conversation as the United Nations celebrates the eightieth anniversary of the signing of its Charter, a document born of hope and tempered by the tragedies of history. Nowhere are the interlocking challenges of poverty, housing, underdevelopment and conflict more visible than in Africa, where these forces, shaped by both contemporary obstacles and enduring colonial legacies, continue to block our people’s hopes for peace and progress. Africa’s experience proves time and again: there is no lasting peace without meaningful development, and no real development without peace. Yet, Africa also bears witness to the power of resilience, solidarity, and innovation. Across our continent, communities rebuild and reconcile, leaders invest in education and opportunity, and regional organizations act as first responders to crisis. These efforts, while courageous, must be matched by a Security Council and a United Nations that recognizes the indivisibility of peace and development. We welcome the Security Council’s acknowledgment that tackling conflict’s root causes is vital to its mission. Over the years, the Council has adopted various resolutions and presidential statements recognizing the critical link between security and development. Still, as highlighted by the World Social Report 2025 and the 2024 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, far more must be done to break the destructive chain linking poverty and violence, including addressing legacies of exploitation and marginalization. In that context, Somalia urges the Security Council to deepen its cooperation with other United Nations bodies, in particular the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, to ensure a coherent, integrated approach to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and development. We also call for strong cooperation with, and support for, regional and subregional organizations in Africa in silencing the guns, as they are often first to respond when early warning signs of crisis emerge. But conflict prevention and peacebuilding go beyond coordination. They require investments through fair trade  — real fair The Council should promote development-focused mandates and back national and local efforts to tackle inequality, foster good governance and create opportunities for youth and marginalized communities. At the same time, we cannot ignore the broader global structures that perpetuate underdevelopment and instability. We call for urgent reform of international financial institutions and advocate for comprehensive debt relief for developing countries, without which sustainable peace and development will remain elusive. We must also stem the tide of illicit financial flows, which rob our nations of critical resources, and address the unfinished business of colonial legacies, which continue to shape patterns of deprivation and exclusion. As we consider the challenges before us, let us remember that the primary responsibility for peacebuilding lies, of course, with national Governments but that international solidarity is indispensable. The Council’s actions must reflect the voices and priorities of those most affected and be tailored to the specific drivers of conflict in each setting. In conclusion, for Africa and for many developing nations, the quest for peace and sustainable development cannot be separated from the enduring shadow of colonialism. Decades after independence, our societies are still contending with the legacies left behind  — arbitrary borders that divide communities, economic structures designed for dependency rather than self-sufficiency and political institutions often shaped to serve distant interests rather than local needs. Those colonial legacies remain powerful drivers of conflict, perpetuating cycles of poverty, inequality and instability. Those who oversee and benefit from the systems that perpetuate exclusion and inequality possess the power and responsibility to choose a different path. We emphasize that, unless we are willing to confront those historical injustices head on, unless we commit to addressing the root causes of conflict by promoting equitable development, good governance and fair trade policies and unless we recommit and strengthen multilateralism as an indispensable foundation for collective progress, our pursuit of peace and sustainable development will remain incomplete, and the promise of the Charter of the United Nations will remain unfulfilled for millions. Only by dismantling the enduring systems of dependency and exclusion can we give all peoples a fair chance to shape their own destinies and secure a future built on dignity, prosperity, justice and hope.

I thank you, Mr. President, Minister Hugh Todd, for convening today’s important discussion. I also thank Secretary-General António Guterres, Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Wignaraja and African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf for their remarks. Eighty years ago, the United States helped to found the United Nations after the Second World War to save future generations from the scourge of war. Peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the presence of security and opportunity for all. It is the foundation upon which societies can thrive, economies can grow and human potential can be fully realized. Peace is the essential bedrock upon which we must build our collective futures. That is why the United States supports the Council’s return to its founding mission of maintaining peace and security around the world. At the same time, national ownership in both conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts remains critical to lasting peace. The United Nations and other international actors alone cannot prevent conflict or build peace. It is essential that national Governments commit to peace and demonstrate that they undertake these When using peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions as tools to prevent the reoccurrence of conflict, the United Nations must engage in integrated planning at both the mission and the headquarters level. Peacekeeping missions, for example, need clear end-states, measurable goals and a streamlined support structure to allocate resources responsibly. Evidence-based indicators are essential to demonstrate the impact of peacekeeping missions. As we strive to advance the cause of peace for all humans, depart from the era of the barbarism of the past and restore this body’s efforts to securing lasting peace, we call upon members to take their commitments seriously. The United States is committed to working with our partners in the Security Council, regional organizations and across the United Nations system to enhance our collective efforts to prevent conflict and build peace with a view to ensuring a safer and more prosperous world for all.

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this high-level debate, which represents a timely opportunity to highlight the links between poverty, sustainable development, peace and security. I also extend my thanks and appreciation to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive briefing, as well as to Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, for his first statement before the Council. We are witnessing critical challenges, such as the unprecedented escalation of crises and new, complex threats that cast a shadow over the socioeconomic situation, particularly in developing countries. We would therefore like to highlight the following issues. First, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offered a vision for a better future. Yet we have achieved less than a quarter of its global goals. That lack of progress has an inevitable impact, with poverty rising, especially in conflict-affected regions. This unfortunate trend creates fertile ground for extremism, violence and terrorism. We should therefore prioritize both security and development through comprehensive and sustainable solutions. That approach will foster the right conditions for development and peace. Secondly, efforts to review United Nations peace operations must consider a broader perspective that does not impede the development dimension of other relevant mechanisms. We therefore call for a comprehensive adaptation process based on mandates designed to support development efforts and promote human rights through effective United Nations mechanisms. Thirdly, Algeria believes that peacebuilding is a vital tool for post-conflict recovery. This approach prevents a return to violence, strengthens national institutions and consolidates the principles of justice, reconciliation and equality. Fourthly, we emphasize strengthening coordination between United Nations agencies and regional partners. In particular, we call for deepening cooperation with the African Union. That will unify shared visions for the optimal use of resources and address development needs, aligning with the priorities of African countries and Agenda 2063 of the African Union. Fifthly, there is an urgent need to activate peace and security initiatives and mediation efforts that are now facing financing challenges. Sustainable peace demands genuine commitment to ensuring permanent, flexible, sustainable and predictable financing for such peace initiatives, as well as for development strategies, including through the international financial institutions. In conclusion, Algeria remains committed to working in collaboration with all international partners to address the root causes of conflict and to maintain international peace and security. Today, as we approach the eightieth anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, we reaffirm our commitment to multilateral action for peace — not as an option, but as a genuine commitment to sustainable peace and development in the world.

I appreciate Guyana for its initiative to hold this open debate on the theme “Poverty, underdevelopment and conflict: implications for the maintenance of international peace and security”. I welcome Your Excellency, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Guyana, to New York to preside over this meeting. I thank Secretary-General Guterres, Assistant Secretary-General Wignaraja and Chairperson Youssouf for their briefings. Peace and development, the common aspirations of people of all countries, are closely interlinked and complement and reinforce each other. Poverty and underdevelopment are major root causes of conflict. Many hotspot issues remain long unresolved and require comprehensive solutions from a development perspective. To that end, I wish to share a few observations. We need to help developing countries leap across the development gaps. At present, progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is far below expectations. Years of achievements in poverty reduction have been gained and lost. Challenges such as food and energy insecurity are interwoven and overlapping, and the global development deficit is further expanding. The international community should adhere to a people-centred philosophy, work to restore the centrality of development in the international agenda, prioritize the allocation of resources to key areas such as poverty reduction, education, employment and capacity-building and strive to leave no country and no individual behind. We need to respect the development path independently chosen by every country. Countries differ in their histories, cultures, social systems and levels of socioeconomic development. We need to respect the right of people of all countries to independently choose their development paths and must oppose foreign interference and the imposition of one’s own will onto others. We need to uphold the international rule of law, ensure the effective implementation of international law and oppose double standards. On hotspot issues, we should respect the merits of the matter, uphold fairness and justice and support the countries of the region in finding ways to defuse tensions and conflict, instead of provoking tensions and creating confrontation. We need to expand global partnerships for development. Developed countries should earnestly fulfil their official development assistance commitments and step up financial and technical support for developing countries and, in particular, vulnerable countries, so as to fulfil the role of North-South cooperation as the main channel. Developing countries need to actively engage in South-South cooperation and achieve strength through unity. China supports the United Nations in playing a central, coordinating role in international development cooperation, and it We need to work to improve global governance. We need to follow the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, jointly respond to global challenges and promote the common development of all countries. We need to advance reform of the international financial architecture to better reflect the changes in the world economic landscape and to increase the representation and voice of developing countries. Countries should advocate universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, jointly uphold the World Trade Organization-centred and rules-based multilateral trading system, build an open world economy and oppose unilateralism, protectionism and putting one’s own interest above the interests of others. We need to attach importance to peacebuilding. In post-conflict countries, peacebuilding is a key aspect of conflict prevention. The international community needs to support the governments of the countries concerned in playing a leading role and help those countries to improve their governance systems, enhance governance capabilities, promote inclusive development and advance reconstruction in all sectors, so that the people will enjoy the development dividends at an early date and the outcomes of peace will be consolidated. China will participate constructively in this year’s United Nations peacebuilding architecture review and promote a better role of the peacebuilding architecture. China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order. We put forth the Global Security Initiative, advocating the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and offering China’s solution for the political settlement of hotspot issues. We are actively engaged in the global development cause, working to implement the Global Development Initiative and engaging in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with all countries for the common development of all. We are committed to high-standard opening up. We have fully opened the manufacturing sector to foreign investment and extend zero-tariff treatment to all African countries and least developed countries that have established diplomatic ties with us. China is building a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. China has successfully blazed a modernization path suited to its national conditions. With our success, we have given other developing countries greater confidence in pursuing modernization and brought about extensive opportunities for the modernization of all countries in the world. We stand ready to work with the international community in our tireless efforts to build a world of peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.

I thank and welcome you, Mr. President, the Honourable Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, to the Security Council, and I commend Guyana for convening this timely open debate. We are grateful for the insightful briefings by His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Development Programme; and His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Sierra Leone warmly congratulates Chairperson Youssouf on his election and assumption of office and extends best wishes on his important role. We meet at a time of escalating global insecurity, with conflicts across the world that continue to destabilize regions, divert scarce resources from development In addition to the context of multiplying crises and militarization, there is the troubling erosion of the rules-based international legal order that was intended to safeguard peace and constrain the abuse of power. The rules-based system embodied in the Charter of the United Nations is increasingly undermined, with unilateral uses of force and violations of sovereignty eroding confidence in international law. Small States and developing countries, most especially least developed countries like Sierra Leone, depend on the integrity of that system. We therefore call on all States Members of the United Nations to recommit to the principles of the Charter and to strengthen accountability so that no State is above the law. The promises of the post-war legal order, namely, sovereign equality, non-interference and sustainable development, are being undermined by the selective application and erosion of international law. The very rules that should constrain the exercise of power by the most powerful States have often been disregarded, allowing interventions, economic coercion and structural economic arrangements that deepen poverty in the global South. There is irrefutable evidence that poverty and underdevelopment are not merely consequences of conflict, but often its root causes. Where people are denied opportunity, dignity and basic services, instability festers. Conversely, sustainable peace requires a solid foundation of inclusive development, equitable governance and resilient institutions. As resolution 2282 (2016) reminds us, “a comprehensive approach to sustaining peace, particularly through the prevention of conflict and addressing its root causes”, including poverty eradication, sustainable development and national reconciliation, is essential. As a matter of fact, the historical and structural inequalities embedded in the international order, established in the aftermath of the Second World War primarily to serve the interests of the industrialized Powers, continue to have profound consequences. The United Nations and the Security Council, the Bretton Woods institutions and the global trading system were created without meaningful participation from colonized regions. Eight decades on, those imbalances persist. Africa, in particular, remains underrepresented in global decision-making, with decisions that significantly affect the continent still often taken without its representative voice at the table. Sierra Leone therefore joins the global consensus on the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the Security Council and the international financial institutions, as recognized in the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1). The Pact reflects the most progressive and concrete commitment to Security Council reform since the 1960s and the most detailed agreement ever reached at the United Nations on the need for reform of the international financial architecture. Reform is essential to ensure global governance that is just, inclusive and fit for purpose. Sierra Leone supports the call for greater coordination between the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission, the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly. We believe that synergies across the United Nations system and stronger partnerships with regional organizations, such as the African Union, the Caribbean Community, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union, are essential for addressing the deep-rooted causes of conflict. As our lived experience demonstrates, illicit resource exploitation and violence are devastatingly linked. We therefore call for a stronger international framework and certification mechanism on natural resource governance to promote responsible sourcing, break the resource-conflict link and ensure natural wealth supports sustainable development. We also encourage stronger partnerships with the international financial institutions, recognizing that economic transformation is a cornerstone of peace. Poverty eradication and sustainable development are central to conflict prevention. In debates on the New Agenda for Peace, we have underscored in this Chamber the need for comprehensive, inclusive and people-centred national prevention strategies, aligned with sustainable development. As we approach the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations, we are reminded that the vision of the Charter was not merely to end wars, but to build the conditions for lasting peace through the economic and social advancement of all peoples. Against that backdrop, Sierra Leone wishes to highlight four points. First, we call for inclusive global governance. A rules-based system that is inclusive, representative and responsive is vital. A participatory and inclusive approach to sustainable development must be employed, with women and youth as major constituents. Africa and the global South must have a greater voice in decision-making to harness opportunities for investment, partnerships and economic transformation. Reform of the Security Council and global financial institutions is essential to ensure equity and effectiveness. Secondly, we must mainstream integrated strategies for peace and development. The United Nations must promote a coherent approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of peacebuilding, development and humanitarian action. We emphasize the critical role of resident coordinators, the convening role of the Peacebuilding Commission and the contributions of United Nations country teams in delivering effective, context-specific strategies. Thirdly, we must mandate outcome-oriented peace operations. United Nations peace operations must be underpinned by a long-term investment in reconciliation, recovery and development. Peace operations should support nationally led strategies for poverty reduction, youth employment, governance reform and women’s empowerment, particularly in post-conflict settings. Fourthly, there must be a consistent application of international law and economic reform to build trust. The international community must pursue fair trade, equitable financing and debt reform. As we heard in the briefings, every investment in prevention saves up to 100 in response. Reforming the global economic system will help developing countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build resilience to economic drivers of conflict. In Africa, we have seen how underdevelopment fuels vulnerability to conflict, but we have also witnessed the power of community-led peacebuilding and regional partnerships. As we heard from Chairperson Youssouf, the AU Silencing the Guns initiative, Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area and the African Green Minerals Strategy are critical strategies that deserve full implementation and support. It starts with one word: ceasefire — ceasefire in the Sudan, ceasefire in Gaza, ceasefire in Myanmar, ceasefire in Ukraine and ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

I thank Guyana for having taken the initiative of this meeting during its presidency of the Security Council — for which I offer my congratulations — a meeting focused on a critical issue, namely the link between peace and sustainable development. I welcome your presence, Mr. Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. I thank the United Nations Secretary-General, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director of the United Nations Development Programme for their briefings. As the deadline nears, the 2030 Agenda is under threat and our collective ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals set in 2015 seems to be increasingly remote. At the same time, peace is jeopardized in many parts of the world, and the number of armed conflicts is growing. That situation should be of concern to the Council, in the light of its primary responsibility, namely, the maintenance of international peace and security. The mobilization to build sustainable development must be matched by the mobilization of the Council to settle conflicts. France calls for unity on two points. First, the Security Council must unswervingly commit itself to building peace while seeking to create the conditions for development. In many countries, persistent conflict obstructs development, erodes institutions, destroys public services and fuels poverty. Its impact is felt disproportionately by women, children and most vulnerable populations. Worsening humanitarian crises around the world are alarming and devastating. The Sudan is a stark example of a country with immense potential, whose development is being made impossible by a war that is as devastating as it is avoidable, devastating for the Sudan as well as for its neighbours. Those who support the belligerents contribute to prolonging the war and making the Sudanese people pay the price. The Council must act, and those who obstruct its action for political ends will shoulder a heavy responsibility. Syria is undergoing a historic transition. For that promise to be fulfilled, economic recovery and stabilization must go hand in hand. Without prospects for development, there is a high risk of providing fertile ground for the resumption of violence and terrorism. Conversely, the failure of national reconciliation would prevent Syria’s recovery. The Council and the international community, therefore, have a responsibility to support the Syrian transition in all its dimensions. That is the rationale for the European Union’s decision to lift economic sanctions imposed on Syria. It is also up to the Council to act to end the crisis in Myanmar, where violence against civilians has been ongoing for more than four years. The Council must better support the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to establish an inclusive dialogue among all parties that will enable a political solution to the conflict, in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar, and put the country back on the path to sustainable development. The lifting of obstacles to Many other examples come to mind — the tragedies in Gaza and Ukraine — the list is too long. Our collective response, within the Council, must be to overcome our differences in order to build peace in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Secondly, we need to tailor our responses to the combined needs of peacekeeping and sustainable development. There can be no peace without the rule of law, the fight against impunity and a return to a policy focused on human development. It is essential to mobilize tools that take into account the diversity of the factors of fragility, such as poverty, the effects of climate change, poor governance and impunity. Peacekeeping operations seek, at the outset, to integrate United Nations development activities. The Peacebuilding Commission also promotes a cross-cutting approach bringing together security, development and the defence of human rights. Speakers have stressed the efforts that need to be intensified by the entire United Nations system and regional organizations to prevent conflicts and build an environment of peace and sustainable development. France defends an ambitious multilateral agenda for peace, prosperity, people and the planet. We are committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. The Third United Nations Ocean Conference, to be held in Nice, France, is the most recent proof of this. We will be carrying this ambition forward in a few days’ time, in Seville, Spain, in a few months in Doha and then in Belém, Brazil, and at forthcoming international meetings. We will mobilize the Paris Pact for People and the Planet at the highest level, so that no country has to choose between fighting poverty and preserving the planet. This comprehensive, integrated approach is anchored in international law, in the United Nations Charter and in our multilateral commitments, whether it is the Paris Agreement or the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, which we hope will come into force early next year. It is one of the building blocks of a solid and lasting peace.

Let me begin by thanking Guyana — and you, Foreign Minister Todd — for convening today’s debate on this critical topic and for your efforts to bring the peace, security and development nexus to the forefront of our work. Let me also thank the Secretary-General and the briefers for their statements. Eighty years since the founding of this Organization, our world is in a state of disarray. Violent conflicts are raging, and the ideals upon which the United Nations was founded are strained on a near-daily basis. In this context, today’s debate is a welcome reminder of the need for the international community, including the Council, to refocus our attention, too place conflict prevention and sustainable development at the heart of our policies. Allow me to make three points. First, around this table, we are frequently reminded of the immediate consequences of war. Yet each conflict also leaves a lasting legacy of inequality, injustice and impoverished communities. The Council needs place these people at the heart of our discussions. Often these are young people. They are the ones bearing the brunt of these interconnected crises and the generational consequences of conflict, inequalities and climate change. Around the world, they face a range of challenges, from stigmatization, to political exclusion, to economic insecurity. But young people are not problems to be solved. They are peacebuilders, educators and leaders. Investing in their rights and opportunities today will empower them to lead Secondly, if we treat conflict as an event, we will always arrive too late. Conflict prevention must become an integrated part of the Council’s work. This makes sense politically, morally and financially. Prevention saves both lives and money. The longer we take to invest in prevention, the more complex challenges grow, the deeper inequalities cut, and the more likely violence is to arise. For Denmark, this is not abstract. Human rights, youth empowerment and gender equality are goals in their own rights, but they are also political imperatives for sustainable peace and development. For more than four decades, we have upheld our official development assistance commitment of 0.7 per cent of gross national income. We continue to dedicate part of that to peace and stabilization. We do so in the firm belief that peace and sustainable development are closely linked. We will continue our strong commitment to all three pillars of the United Nations system: peace and security, development and human rights. Thirdly, we already have the tools at our disposal. We have the agendas and the frameworks to guide our actions. What is needed now is to adapt them to today’s complex realities. For example, we recognize the Peacebuilding Commission as a critical platform to support national peacebuilding priorities and spot emerging risks and early warning signs. The ongoing review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture is a chance to refocus our efforts towards inclusive local impact and nationally led prevention. It is a chance to mobilize the full force of the United Nations system and beyond. In addition, the review of all forms of peace operations represents an opportunity to adapt this indispensable tool to ever-changing realities on the ground. Also, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the women and peace and security agenda and the tenth anniversary of the youth, peace and security agenda are important occasions to recommit to shifting power for peace. Finally, we need to expand our joint efforts with regional organizations and financial institutions. They are critical partners of countries in their efforts to sustain peace. They are also critical partners of the Council. In closing, just as conflict starts well before the pulling of a trigger, peace does not end with the signing of a deal. Sustained efforts are needed to avoid relapse into violent conflict. We know that the road to lasting peace is long. It takes time and it takes commitment to address the drivers and enablers of conflict. It takes partnership, investment and a willingness to adapt.

The delegation of Pakistan would like to thank the presidency of Guyana for its leadership and for convening this important debate. We appreciate the Secretary-General for his compelling statement this morning, setting the stage for this debate. Let me also thank Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Wignaraja and Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson African Union Commission for their insightful briefings. The theme before us today captures a fundamental truth: poverty, development and peace are inextricably linked. The eradication of poverty remains one of the biggest global challenges and a prerequisite for sustainable development. Without development, peace cannot endure. Without peace, development cannot take root. We must not forget the crucial third pillar, human rights. As former Secretary-General Kofi Annan aptly said, we will not enjoy development without security. We will not enjoy security without development nor without respect for human rights. Poverty, exclusion, inequality and the denial of fundamental rights are not just development concerns. They are among the deep-rooted structural causes of conflict. Without addressing these underlying drivers, peace efforts will remain incomplete, fragile and short-lived. The world today is witnessing growing insecurity, deepening I would like to offer four points in this regard. First, the Council must address structural injustices that perpetuate conflict, including unresolved and long-running situations of foreign occupation, systemic discrimination and the denial of the right to self-determination. A principled and consistent application of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and relevant Security Council resolutions is essential to peace, justice and stability. Secondly, sustaining peace requires more than military responses. It demands a comprehensive system wide approach throughout the peace continuum. We must enhance the Council’s role in conflict prevention by strengthening preventive diplomacy and promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes. And our response to intra-State situations or complex crises should continue to embed development considerations into peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts. This requires stronger collaboration with the Economic and Social Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and the United Nations development actors in the design and implementation of mandates. The ongoing peacebuilding architecture review is a vital opportunity in this regard. Thirdly, responses must be tailored to specific contexts. There is no one-size-fits- all solution. National governments have the primary responsibility for peace and development. They must lead efforts to combat poverty and underdevelopment as part of their conflict prevention strategies. And the international community and the Council must support their efforts by aligning mandates with prevention goals and through timely, coherent and sustained engagement, especially in countries emerging from conflict. Fourthly, the Council should deepen partnerships with regional and subregional organizations such as the African Union, the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and others, which often act as first responders in preventing and resolving conflict. Their voices and insights must be institutionally integrated into the Council’s deliberations. We look forward to also advancing some of those objectives during Pakistan’s presidency of the Council next month. As the Secretary-General emphasized, prevention is the best cure, and we have often said that development is the best means of conflict prevention. We cannot speak of lasting peace without addressing the structural conditions that undermine development. Yet developing countries are being held back by unjust global economic structures. They are burdened by unsustainable debt, hunger and worsening climate shocks. Despite their resources, despite their wealth, they are often on the receiving end of the scramble for, and exploitation of, natural resources that favour the developed world. Many are trapped in unfair and inequitable global systems that perpetuate poverty and underdevelopment. The world needs $4.2 trillion annually to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. That is achievable if there is political will. The steps would include the additional issuance and further rechannelling of special drawing rights, the recapitalization and strengthening of multilateral development banks, the fulfilment of official development assistance and climate finance commitments, the equitable and timely resolution of debt crises, fair development-oriented trade policies and just international taxation systems. The upcoming Fourth International Conference on As we approach the eightieth anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, we must renew our collective commitment to its founding vision: a world built on peace, development and human dignity. The Secretary-General’s UN80 Initiative offers another opportunity to build on reforms, advance the implementation of the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1), reinvigorate multilateralism and make the United Nations more effective, inclusive and responsive. We must not allow poverty to continue sowing the seeds of conflict. Building lasting peace means building societies in which every individual has the opportunity to live in dignity, free from want and fear. We must set aside geopolitical divisions not only to arrest the downward slide but also to reverse this trend, join hands and pool our collective resources for sustainable peace and development.

At the outset, allow me to commend the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs for convening this timely and highly relevant debate. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General and the briefers for their insightful remarks. As we mark the eightieth anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, we are reminded that our shared vision of international peace and sustainable development, founded on respect for international law and international humanitarian law, remains unfinished. Around the world, conflicts continue to erase years of progress, while structural conditions, such as inequality, exclusion and weak governance, undermine the foundations of stability. Those overlapping crises have hit low-income countries the hardest. Extreme poverty has become increasingly concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and in places affected by conflict and fragility, according to World Bank data. To achieve stronger, inclusive economies and prosperous societies, our policy decisions need to be guided by Sustainable Development Goal 1 — ending poverty in all its forms everywhere. Addressing the root causes of conflict by reducing poverty and inequality is one of the central pillars of Greece’s commitment to global peace. Specifically, Greece has recently funded the World Food Programme’s project for the restoration of the port of Benghazi in Libya, which serves as a critical entry point for food and humanitarian aid to the wider region of North Africa and the Sahel, and the World Health Organization’s rehabilitation project for the Al-Khair hospital in Gaza — a critical reference point for the displaced population. Greece firmly believes that poverty and underdevelopment are not just development concerns; they are fundamental threats to peace and security. As outlined in the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace, conflict prevention must be rooted in inclusive development, social cohesion and institutional resilience. In that context, allow me to highlight four key areas of focus. First, we need to strengthen and mainstream existing approaches to address the root causes of conflict such as poverty, food insecurity, the absence of the rule of law and violent extremism. Closely interlinking our humanitarian development and peace efforts is key to bringing about more efficiency on the ground in conformity with the triple humanitarian-development-peace nexus. In that respect, the Peacebuilding Commission is ideally placed to raise awareness of regional efforts, local communities’ expertise and the cross-border dimensions of conflict. We welcome its advice, which not only is valuable to us in the context of this meeting but also can guide us in our future endeavours. For this reason, Greece, during this year’s peacebuilding architecture review, reiterates its strong support for expanding the Peacebuilding Commission’s role in regional settings and cross-cutting areas, Secondly, peace must be inclusive to be durable, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16 of ending conflict and corruption. Greece champions participatory and representative governance at all levels. The full and meaningful participation of women, youth and marginalized communities is indispensable for creating resilient institutions and achieving long-term development goals. Thirdly, we call for greater investment in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. We strongly encourage all Member States to agree to raising assessed contributions to meet conflict-affected countries’ rising requirements for support from the Peacebuilding Fund. In addition, formalizing the Peacebuilding Commission’s relationship with international financial institutions and regional development banks and strengthening its cooperation with the Economic and Social Council can better operationalize its development impact on the ground. Fourthly, Greece remains committed to the collective aspiration to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in line with target 14.c of the Sustainable Development Goals. In conclusion, let me stress that Greece supports a rules-based global order, with multilateralism as its key principle and the United Nations at its core. We remain committed to multilateralism and to a United Nations system that is more responsive, inclusive and aligned with the real needs of those most at risk. Let us seize this milestone year — United Nations 80 — as a moment to recommit to a vision of peace anchored in dignity, equity and opportunity for all.

We welcome you, Mr. Minister, as you preside over the Security Council today. The Guyanese presidency has proposed for discussion in the Security Council today an issue that many regard as complex and most inconvenient: the link between poverty and conflict. We thank the Secretary-General for his briefing, and we thank Assistant Secretary-General Wignaraja and Chairperson Youssouf for theirs. As has been the case in numerous other similar situations, when matters peripheral to the maintenance of international peace and security are raised in the Council and when there is a clear lack of consensus, as confirmed in the case of the initiative to reach agreement on a product of the Council, we nevertheless stand ready to contribute to the discussion. However, the greatest challenge is to reach agreement on the root causes of the challenges under discussion. Without conflating the issue with the challenges of human rights, gender, democracy and climate change, combating poverty remains a priority for the socioeconomic pillar of the United Nations and a top priority of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. According to paragraph 35 of the Agenda, peace and security will be at risk if poverty is not defeated and sustainable development is not achieved. At the same time, although extreme poverty is a breeding ground for new hotbeds of tension, it is not the only or the main cause of them. It is evident to all that there are countries with low levels of development that are not embroiled in conflict. On the contrary, we need to acknowledge the fact that the real root causes for conflict remain external interference in the domestic affairs of States and the geopolitical ambitions of certain groups of countries that are seeking to expand their spheres of influence at the expense of others and artificially buttress their dwindling domination. The starkest manifestation of that is evident in the legacy of colonialism and neocolonial practices, as well as in the aggressive policy being carried out Problems related to external debt are also worsening. The number of countries with high debt levels has risen from 22 in 2011, to 59 today. The external debt of African countries exceeds 24.5 per cent of their aggregate gross domestic product, and for many countries of the region that figure is significantly higher — up to 60 per cent — and expenditures for servicing that debt are outstripping expenditures for education and medicine. The highest interest rates on debt servicing apply precisely to the poorest countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Thus, in accordance with the so-called “rules-based order” that is championed by the West — and was mentioned here today, the global South is falling into the trap of cyclical debt accumulation and is becoming a bargaining chip for Western States to advance their geopolitical agendas. The situation is also alarming in some countries that are not being targeted by sanctions and have not fallen into the debt trap. For example, since 2024, we have seen a sustained trend of the reduction of foreign aid from major donors. According to estimates by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, overall official development assistance levels fell by 7.1 per cent in 2024. According to forecasts, in 2025, that figure may fall by another 9 to 17 per cent. Appeals from United Nations development and humanitarian assistance agencies are often only receiving 10–20 of the requested funding. And donors now have priorities other than helping countries in need. They are reorienting their budgets to militarize their economies and to finance the weapons-related demands of other States, thereby merely fanning the flames of other conflicts instead of honouring their obligations and preventing those conflicts, including by combating poverty in the least developed countries. Blatant examples of external players dragging developing countries into poverty and instability can be seen in specific country and regional situations. For instance, Afghanistan had for years been dependent on international aid due to the 20-year presence of NATO troops there. It subsequently found itself in a state of utter financial depletion, targeted by unilateral sanctions and on the brink of humanitarian and economic collapse. The countries of the Sahelo-Saharan region, in addition to illegitimate unilateral restrictions, are facing catastrophic underfunding of humanitarian appeals. This year, only 9 per cent of overall humanitarian needs are to be allocated for the people of the region beset by terrorism as a result of NATO’s military intervention in Libya. The Council’s agenda is replete with such examples. In conclusion, we would like to once again draw the attention of the members of the Council to the fact that it would be more advisable to consider such issues in other universal and specialized United Nations formats and mechanisms, such as the General Assembly or the leading bodies of the United Nations development system, the executive boards of funds and programmes, so as not to jeopardize the principle of division of labour between the principal organs of the United Nations. The Security Council could consider them, but only in the context of the maintenance of international peace and security and to deal with specific country situations. The Peacebuilding Commission, which occupies a unique position at the intersection of At the same time, we believe that in order to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, there is a need to revert back to dialogue among States based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all members of the international community and their right to choose their own economic models, as well as the principle of indivisible security. The fight against poverty must remain the leading, unchanged priority for our collective action. Success will depend solely on whether we are capable of ushering in a transition from the colonial practices of the past to a future of mutually respectful relations.

Panama thanks Guyana for convening this open debate on an issue of great complexity, but also of urgent international relevance. We welcome His Excellency Mr. Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. We also welcome the valuable participation of Secretary-General António Guterres, Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Development Programme, as well as the representative of the African Union, Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. As the vast majority of Member States reaffirmed in the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1), we live in a world where peace, international security, sustainable development and human rights are inextricably interrelated. For Panama, conflict and its violent manifestations directly aggravate poverty and the challenges of sustainable development. But we also recognize that structural conditions, such as persistent inequality, colonial legacies and external interference can provide fertile ground for instability, even without constituting direct causes of conflict. In that sense, it is essential to emphasize that, more than poverty itself, institutional fragility frequently transforms social tensions into organized violence. States with eroded institutional capacities, where justice, security and basic services are inaccessible or unequal, become especially vulnerable to cycles of violence and conflict. Unfortunately, that reality is evident in our sister country, Haiti. Today it is facing a multidimensional crisis that transcends humanitarian issues. More than 85 per cent of its capital is under the control of armed groups. Homicides, sexual abuses and systematic human rights violations have multiplied, and 1.3 million people are internally displaced. In addition, the fragility of the State apparatus has allowed fear and exclusion to be used by violent actors to forcibly recruit children and young people. It is not merely a question of poverty, but of a collapse of the social contract. Similar situations can be observed in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, Central Asia and many other regions, where factors such as climate change, food insecurity, restrictions on women’s rights and ethnic discrimination, among others, are creating conditions conducive to instability, the effects of which are borne directly by the civilian population. The pattern repeats itself. According to the United Nations Development Programme report, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2024: Poverty amid conflict, in 2024 more than 1.1 billion people were living in acute poverty, and nearly half of them did so in contexts affected by conflict. In addition, women and girls accounted for more than half of the 73.5 million people who were internally displaced by violence, according to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Moreover, that same report indicates that 455 million people living in poverty are in conflict contexts. Panama firmly believes that international action must centre not only on mitigating the consequences of conflicts, but also on strengthening the institutional capacities of In this challenging global landscape, Panama underscores the need for the Council to broaden its scope. While its mandate focuses on the more immediate aspects of international security, it must be acknowledged that current conflicts are complex, interdependent and multidimensional. By responding to those conflicts with a comprehensive vision that includes the strengthening of institutions as a pivotal element, we will be better prepared to build a peace that is genuine and sustainable.

I thank the Guyanese presidency for organizing this open debate. I also wish to join others in thanking Secretary-General Guterres, Assistant Secretary-General Wignaraja of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and African Union Commission Chairperson Youssouf for their valuable briefings. The Charter of the United Nations entrusts the Security Council with a broad mandate to maintain international peace in security. That responsibility extends beyond conflict resolution. It also confers upon the Council a crucial role in early warning and conflict prevention. While other United Nations bodies, such as the Economic and Social Council or the Peacebuilding Commission, might be better positioned to develop concrete solutions for the complex and mutually reinforcing relationship between poverty, underdevelopment and conflict, debates like today’s can enhance the Security Council’s ability to better fulfil its primary responsibility. As we walk to this Chamber, the headquarters of UNDP, located across the street, reminds us daily: “There is no peace without development. And there is no development without peace.” Although conflict is by no means exclusive to developing countries, numerous studies confirm that the risk of conflict is significantly higher in contexts marked by poverty, inequalities, weak governance, the erosion of trust in public institutions, deep economic challenges and climate stress, among other contributing factors. The road to violence often begins long before the first bullets are fired. Today, I would like to offer three considerations for the Council. First, investments in development and resilience are investments in peace and security, and evidence proves that they are cost-effective. Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development remains the main instrument with which to address the root causes of poverty, conflict and instability. Sustainable development, strong institutions, good governance based on the rule of law, respect for and protection of human rights and access to basic services, such as water and sanitation, education and healthcare, not only save lives but also reduce the immense financial costs associated with post-conflict reconstruction. Prevention is the most efficient and cost-effective tool to guide fragile countries from conflict towards peace and resilience, enabling them to absorb, mitigate and withstand shocks. That is a trade-off that decision-makers cannot afford to ignore. Secondly, we believe in a human-centred approach to security. Our responses must include climate adaptation, food security, sustainable development and inclusive access to essential services, education, jobs and economic opportunities. Investing in children’s well-being and empowering women and youth are necessary and effective peacebuilding strategies. Education remains one of the most powerful tools with which to counter radicalization and prevent recruitment into armed groups. Ensuring Also important is the aspect of human dignity. The full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of all women, including those facing social or economic exclusion, has been shown to improve the effectiveness of conflict prevention, mediation efforts and humanitarian response. Slovenia has placed the empowerment of women at the centre of its development aid policies, as the critical element of strengthening societal resilience and advancing sustainable development. Finally, without sustained efforts to build resilience, today’s challenges will re-emerge tomorrow. Advancing the coherent implementation of the triple nexus remains critical to the effectiveness and sustainability of our collective response. The triple nexus approach must be operationalized in practice through integrated investments in basic social services, local governance and social cohesion, alongside peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts. As a member of the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, Slovenia remains committed to building bridges between those three bodies, so that they can better address the complex and multifaceted challenges that we are facing today.

I now give the floor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.

I am honoured to make this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and my own country, Sweden. Last week, the Uppsala Conflict Data Program established that the number of armed conflicts in the world has reached a historic high. There are now 61 active conflicts. We firmly maintain that respect for international law is essential for peace, security and development. In this Chamber, we are often reminded of the direct casualties of war. However, the secondary effects of conflict and how they negatively affect development are talked about less often. Armed conflict undermines health systems, leading to increased mortality. War disrupts education systems, with effects on future incomes. Conflict destroys infrastructure, impedes access to clean water and food and damages the environment. Conflict results in forced displacement. We also have the invisible war wounds, the traumas and long-term effects on mental health, which can persist for generations. Poverty and underdevelopment can also drive instability. A combination of weak governance and marginalized communities often increases the risk of violence. To break today´s vicious spiral of escalating armed conflict on the one hand, and growing poverty and underdevelopment on the other, I want to focus on one aspect: the importance of empowering women and girls. Promoting gender equality is key to achieving peace, security and development. That is not just a statement taken out of thin air. Studies show that women are more likely than men to invest their earnings in their families and communities. Investing in women is one of the smartest things to do to break the poverty trap. That includes ensuring their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Gross domestic product per capita would be almost 20 per cent higher on average across countries, if gender employment gaps were closed. We also know that women’s political participation leads to more long-term peace and stability. Research shows that peace agreements with women signatories have higher rates of implementation and last longer. Yet, women make up only five per cent of the negotiators, nine per cent of the mediators and 19 per cent of the signatories.

I now give the floor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay.

Uruguay thanks the presidency of our Guyanese friends for the timely convening of this open debate. Uruguay reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism as an indispensable tool to address the challenges of peace, security and development in an integrated manner. As we approach the eightieth anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, we must renew our collective commitment to the promotion of stable, resilient and equitable environments and, to that end, we must address the structural causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality and environmental degradation. We are convinced that the Security Council can play a key role in the discussion. There can be no lasting peace without sustainable development, nor development without peace, and we know that. Managing risk and building resilience requires comprehensive approaches that link security with development and human rights, supported by a robust, fairer and more equitable international financial architecture. We believe that investing in sustainable development is the way to eradicate poverty and generate economic opportunities, strengthen governance and the social contract and reduce the factors that lead to violence. The links between poverty, underdevelopment and conflict require coherent and coordinated action. In that framework, I would like to highlight the following elements. First, the data shows that in contexts of multidimensional poverty — in which gaps in access to basic services, education, decent employment and the full exercise of rights converge — the social fabric is weakened and the conditions that fuel cycles of violence are amplified. It is essential that the Council’s early warning mechanisms integrate structural variables, such as territorial inequality, gender gaps, youth unemployment and institutional weakness, to effectively anticipate such tensions. Secondly, peace must translate into opportunities for those experiencing multiple deprivations, especially children, youth and women in post-conflict contexts. Decent employment, education and economic inclusion must be at the heart of prevention strategies, as well as of comprehensive frameworks for peace missions and international cooperation. In that regard, we reiterate the urgency of reforming the international financial architecture to ensure mechanisms for debt restructuring and relief, investment attraction and financing for development. Thirdly, we believe that peacebuilding and sustainable development must be anchored in context-sensitive, community-centred diagnostics. Local ownership, knowledge of socioterritorial dynamics and the participation of youth and women are necessary conditions for the success of multilateral efforts aimed at conflict prevention and resilience-building, as well as strengthening the legitimacy of processes and contributing to the restoration of the social fabric. Fourthly, while the interdependence among security, development and human rights is widely recognized, a gap persists between discourse and action, with a worrisome tendency to prioritize military responses over comprehensive and preventive approaches. Security Council mandates are needed that integrate sustainable development, territorial equity and contributive justice as key dimensions for achieving lasting peace, including in the design and implementation of peacekeeping operations. We need to produce policies that integrate prevention and a development approach from the early stages of the conflict cycle. Addressing the structural causes of conflict, many of which are socioeconomic in nature, and using as a foundation strong and high-quality public sector investment and economic opportunity are important building blocks for responses that strengthen cohesion and restore the social contract. Uruguay pledges to continue working actively to ensure that the United Nations system evolves towards a more coherent, more inclusive and more preventive approach. Only through an effective, human-rights-centred multilateralism can we move towards a truly sustainable peace. I believe that that is where we must focus our work.

I now give the floor to the representative of Bangladesh.

I thank the presidency of Guyana for organizing this timely and important debate. We live in a world in which poverty, underdevelopment and conflict are all interconnected. If we are to preserve international peace and security, addressing those challenges is not an option — it is essential. In Bangladesh, we have always viewed young people as agents of positive change. From the historic language movement in 1952 to our liberation struggle and, most recently, the student-led Monsoon Revolution, our youth have consistently led the way in fighting against inequalities and injustice. We are also deeply aware of the consequences when young people are denied access to education and employment. Across regions and contexts, large segments of youth — when left behind — can become vulnerable to manipulation and violent ideologies that exploit identity and faith. The Council is well aware that protracted crises often emerge from systemic marginalization. For over eight years, Bangladesh has been hosting 1.2 million Rohingya refugees who fled from their own country, Myanmar, owing to persecution by the military regime. Our humanitarian act has put before us immense socioeconomic and environmental challenges, and the situation is now posing new security risks. We call for renewed international attention and action to ensure their return with safety and rights. That is not only a matter of justice but also vital for preventing a root cause of potential instability in our region. The current development and security landscape is shaped by long-standing inequities, many of which are rooted in centuries of political subjugation and economic exploitation. Correcting those imbalances is our shared responsibility. In that context, we must aim for a future shaped by the bold aspiration of three zeros, propounded by Professor Yunus: zero poverty, zero unemployment and net zero carbon emissions. Those are not just development goals, they are foundational to lasting peace and stability. Realizing that vision will require an alignment of peacebuilding efforts with inclusive and forward-looking development strategies. In doing so, we see the transformative potential of “social business” pioneered by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. By prioritizing people over profits, such enterprises boost inclusive growth and reduce grievances that would otherwise lead to unrest. We believe this approach offers valuable lessons worth replicating globally. Bangladesh remains committed to doing its part, and to working alongside all concerned in pursuit of a more just, peaceful, and secure world.

I give the floor to Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of of Timo-Leste.

At the outset, we thank Guyana, as a President of the Security Council, for organizing this important high-level open debate. We wish to also thank His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, the Secretary-General, for his comprehensive remarks, and we extend our gratitude to the Assistant Secretary- General of the United Nations Development Programme and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for their comprehensive briefings. It is a great honour for Timor-Leste to contribute to this debate on poverty, underdevelopment and conflict, implications for international peace and security. Poverty and underdevelopment are not merely social conditions; they are potent catalysts for instability. In fragile States, they exacerbate tensions both within and between communities. A lack of access to basic services, high unemployment rates and pervasive marginalization create profound grievances that can readily escalate into violent confrontations, thereby undermining peace agreements and perpetuating cycles of instability. Furthermore, weak institutions often struggle to deliver governance, security and justice impartially, transforming poverty and underdevelopment into both symptoms and primary drivers of conflict. As members of the Group of Seven Plus, a group of fragile and conflict-affected States, we possess first-hand experience of how deeply socioeconomic vulnerabilities shape peacebuilding efforts. Our insights that we share today are direct results of our own journey from fragility to progress. After the restoration of independence in 2002, Timor-Leste faced devastated infrastructure, fragile institutions and deep socioeconomic exclusion. This dire situation prompted us to fundamentally rethink our trajectory of nationhood in close collaboration with our international partners. Through sustained international partnership, inclusive politics and targeted poverty reduction initiatives, we have achieved measurable progress, though significant challenges undeniably remain. Through community-driven development programmes and strategic rural infrastructure investments, the national poverty headcount ratio notably fell from 50.4 per cent in 2007 to 41.8 per cent in 2014. However, the triple shocks of natural disasters, the coronavirus disease pandemic and political deadlock from 2017 to 2023 severely hampered our poverty alleviation efforts. The current Government is diligently working to reverse these setbacks. To diversify our economy, the Government established the Petroleum Fund in 2002. This Fund has enabled significant investments across various sectors, including agriculture, small and medium enterprises, and nascent tourism. The Petroleum Fund’s establishment also led to the dramatic expansion of electricity coverage, from single-digit percentages at independence to 97 per cent nationwide, and an impressive increase in life expectancy from 57 to 70 years over two decades. Critically, all Despite these achievements, persistent challenges include low economic growth, rising unemployment, continued poverty and underdeveloped infrastructure. To address these, the Government empowers rural communities to manage small- scale infrastructure projects, ensuring their relevance, ownership and long-term sustainability. Unconditional cash transfers for vulnerable households continue to reduce acute food insecurity and foster vital social cohesion. The Government remains committed to strengthening public financial management and anti-corruption frameworks, thereby increasing transparency and accountability in resource allocation. We have also launched public-private partnerships in agro-processing and fisheries, effectively connecting smallholder farmers to both domestic and export markets. Given the decline in foreign assistance, we urge the international community to consider the following recommendations: First, we should revisit the current financial architecture and provide multi-year, programmatic funding modalities specifically tailored to fragile contexts. This will empower Governments to plan and implement long-term development strategies under national leadership. The transition from overreliance on official development assistance (ODA) to fostering genuine economic resilience must be actively pursued. Secondly, we should integrate rigorous conflict analysis and ensure that all development and humanitarian operations include thorough conflict analysis to mitigate unintended tensions and amplify peace dividends. Thirdly, we should support digital infrastructure and promote mobile banking and e-governance solutions that can leapfrog traditional development barriers and generate much-needed youth employment. Fourthly, we should leverage expertise and investment, and seek expertise and investment from emerging economies and responsible businesses to diversify economies, facilitate knowledge transfer and create sustainable value chains. Peace extends far beyond the mere absence of violence. It demands conditions that uphold human dignity, provide genuine opportunity and instill hope. Poverty and underdevelopment fundamentally undermine these essential conditions and are potent fuels for instability. Therefore, the global commitment to peace and security is intrinsically inseparable from our collective efforts to eradicate poverty and promote inclusive development, especially in fragile States on the frontlines of conflict. Timor-Leste reaffirms its unwavering dedication to this unified agenda and urges all partners to intensify collaboration and shared responsibility in building a more just, peaceful and prosperous world.

I give the floor to the representative of Germany.

I am honoured to take the floor on behalf of the new German Government and would like to thank Guyana for today’s important debate about the link between poverty, underdevelopment and conflict. This year, we celebrate the United Nations eightieth anniversary. We must remember: the three pillars of the United Nations — peace, development and human rights — are not stand-alone priorities. We must always keep in mind all three pillars. And we must work to ensure a coherent approach across the United Nations system. This will be aimed at a safer, more prosperous world. As you have pointed out, Mr. President, addressing climate change must be a priority. Climate change undermines sustainable development. It makes communities vulnerable. It can lead to conflict. Germany has therefore set up a dedicated portfolio with climate-sensitive peace projects. The Security Council has recognized those links in several mission mandates. That was also underscored at the peacekeeping ministerial held in Berlin on 13 and 14 May. We call on the members of the Security Council to continue this work, addressing the realities faced by many nations and people on the ground. At the same time, the entire United Nations system must coordinate better to find solutions to climate and development challenges. The Climate Security Mechanism is a perfect example of how to break down silos. Expertise must be combined across pillars. As a long-time supporter of, and the largest donor to, that Mechanism, Germany is proud to be sponsoring a network of climate and security advisers, and we are proud to co-lead the Group of Friends on Climate and Security here in New York, together with our partner, Nauru. In conclusion, let me underline that Germany’s commitment to global peace and sustainable development remains as strong as ever. In times of uncertainty, Germany remains a reliable partner for the United Nations system and its Member States. Our actions are guided by the belief that no one must be left behind.

I now give the floor to the representative of Viet Nam.

I thank Guyana for organizing this important open debate. I also extend my delegation’s appreciation to the Secretary-General and the other briefers for their insights. I would like to make three points. First, I think that there is a common understanding around the table that there can be no lasting peace without sustainable development and no sustainable development without lasting peace. The Security Council is expected to not just realize that, but to work more towards that reality. Although the Security Council’s primary responsibility is not to address poverty and underdevelopment, it plays a pivotal role in shaping conditions for development through the maintenance of international peace and security. In order to create good conditions for peace, security and development, we must give greater attention to the structural drivers of conflict: poverty, inequality, food insecurity, climate change and the erosion of livelihoods. Those are not just development challenges but also security challenges, and, if not addressed properly, they can be triggers and even multipliers of conflict. There is therefore a need for a shift in mindset. Political solutions are not enough. Military solutions should be kept to a minimum. A more sustainable solution must consist of a people-centred approach that places development at the heart of any peace efforts, in particular in security- and the conflict-fragile regions and countries. Secondly, I speak from Viet Nam’s own experience. After emerging from decades of war, with development at the centre of our post-war efforts and with the support and assistance of both bilateral and multilateral development donors, including United Nations agencies, we have moved on and are proud to be among the 25 countries that have halved their Multidimensional Poverty Index since 2010. I would say that Viet Nam is a typical example of how important the United Nations role is in global development, particularly in post-conflict settings. By advancing On the basis of that very experience, during our non-permanent membership of the Council from 2020 to 2021, Viet Nam placed a strong priority on promoting development in the peace and security agenda. We initiated resolution 2573 (2021) on the protection of critical infrastructure essential to the survival of civilian populations in armed conflict, which is indeed an affirmation that, even amid war, amid conflict, the seeds of sustainable peace and development must be planted and must be protected. We hope that such momentum will continue going forward. Lastly, from that perspective, we offer three proposals. First, the Security Council should systematically address development-related root causes of conflict in its deliberations and work. This point has been mentioned by many briefers before. I think that that should be done through closer coordination among the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and relevant United Nations agencies. Secondly, poverty eradication, social inclusion and investment in human capital and critical infrastructure should be prioritized across the entire conflict spectrum, from early warning and prevention to post-conflict reconstruction. Thirdly, a more coherent whole-of-system approach is needed to align peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development efforts. Development priorities must be integrated into peacekeeping funding strategies, with closer coordination among the Council, United Nations agencies, financial institutions and donors to support sustainable recovery in conflict-affected countries. As the United Nations approaches its eightieth anniversary, this is a moment for reflection and recommitment. We must do more to uphold the original vision of the Charter of the United Nations. We see peace, development and human dignity as inseparable. Viet Nam calls for a new cycle of well-funded and integrated global projects, aimed at addressing poverty and underdevelopment in conflict- fragile countries and regions. I support the comment made by Ms. Wignaraja, the representative of the United Nations Development Programme, of the need for more intentional global projects of that kind. Viet Nam therefore remains committed to working with all partners to promote a more effective, inclusive and sustainable peace and security agenda and sustainable development.

I now give the floor to the representative of Cuba.

We appreciate the timely convening of this meeting, promoted by Guyana, under the leadership of its President. First and foremost, Cuba condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people and the recent and unjustified attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Both crimes have the support and impunity guaranteed by the United States Government. Both flagrantly violate the Charter of the United Nations and international law and constitute a new and dangerous escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. At the Millennium Summit in 2000, the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz asserted, “Everyone understands that the United Nations basic role in the new century now upon us is to save the world not only from war but also from underdevelopment, hunger, diseases, poverty and the destruction of the natural resources indispensable to human life. And the United Nations must do this promptly — before it is too late.” (A/55/PV.4, p. 20) A recent report by the Secretary-General indicates that 47 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals, which are conservative and limited, are not progressing at a sufficient pace and 18 per cent of them are going backwards. There is a risk that more than two thirds of the Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will not be met, even though we are only five years from the date agreed upon in 2015. More than ever, international peace and security are threatened by growing conflicts, acts of aggression, unconventional wars, economic blockades, attempts at regime change and frequent violations of the United Nations Charter and international law. Substantial resources are being squandered on the arms race, with an alarming increase, for the tenth consecutive year, in global military spending, which in 2024 reached $2.718 billion, 9.4 per cent more than in 2023, encouraged by the bellicose approach and trajectory of the United States. At the same time, global poverty has not decreased and hunger across the planet has increased dramatically. Conservative data indicate that, in 2024, 670 million people were living in extreme poverty; more than 295 million people in 53 countries and territories suffered acute levels of hunger, and the number of people suffering from catastrophic levels of hunger reached an all-time high. The Declaration on the Right to Development urgently needs to be implemented. It is imperative that the substantial resources currently allocated to military spending be redirected to hunger and poverty reduction in order to alleviate the $4 trillion annual investment shortfall for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in developing countries. Underdevelopment and poverty resulting from the unequal distribution of wealth remain among the root causes of most conflicts. Lasting peace requires the eradication of the root causes of conflict, in particular the problems of economic and social development resulting from centuries of colonization, slavery, plunder and wars over the distribution of the world. There is an urgent need to change the irrational and unsustainable production and consumption model of present-day capitalism. Developed countries must fulfil their historical responsibility to the South and honour their commitments in terms of official development assistance. In this world, where the philosophy of dispossession prevails, it seems almost impossible for us to eradicate poverty and advance towards development. The construction of a new, just, democratic and equitable international order, as well as an urgent reform of the international financial architecture, cannot be postponed. It is incumbent upon the General Assembly to lead these efforts, and upon the States to strengthen international solidarity and cooperation to eradicate poverty and move towards development. In the face of the dangers that today loom over humankind, we will never abandon the aspiration to bequeath to future generations a world of peace, in which the sovereignty of States and non-interference in their internal affairs are respected and in which the full exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, so necessary for sustainable development, is guaranteed.

Before continuing, I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than four minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Flashing lights on the collars of the microphones will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after four minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia. As we mark the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations this year, we need to ask ourselves: have we succeeded in saving our generation from the scourge of war and providing them with a better standards of living? The stark reality today may prove otherwise — from violence against the Palestinians in Gaza to the rising tension in the Middle East to decades of conflict and instability in parts of Africa. Indeed, ongoing conflicts across the world deepen poverty and inequality, becoming breeding grounds for grief, instability and violence, with nearly half of the 1.1 billion people living in acute poverty in countries experiencing war or fragility. Peace and prosperity must therefore be pursued in tandem. In this precarious time, the Security Council should prove that it can serve as a catalyst for peace, which, in turn, can bring prosperity to all humankind. On that note, I would like to share several points. First, we must invest in sustaining peace. In that regard, enhancing synergies between the Security Council and the work of the wider United Nations system is crucial. Greater alignment between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as the Peacebuilding Fund, must be pursued to mobilize political and financial support. Closer cooperation with development actors must also be forged so as to ensure that resources are available to effectively deliver on peacebuilding and sustaining peace mandates. Secondly, we must support nationally owned peacebuilding strategies. Inclusive participation and tailored responses are key in this effort to strengthen institutional capacities in addressing root causes, improve living conditions and avoid relapse. Our peacekeepers have witnessed first-hand the impact of those approaches on peace efforts. We must support community empowerment, including through civil- military coordination, in order to build the resilience of populations. That can be done through offering trainings to enhance skills and create economic opportunities, providing medical assistance and supporting infrastructure maintenance. Thirdly, we must promote the role of regional organizations in conflict prevention and resolution. Tapping the experience of regional organizations by regularly inviting them to Council meetings will be instrumental, in particular when crafting responses to complex and protracted conflicts and addressing their root causes. The the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, for instance, is a testament to the effectiveness of collective effort in shifting potential conflict into development cooperation and promoting preventive diplomacy approaches in the region. Indonesia reaffirms its conviction that there can be no peace without development and that sustainable development remains out of reach without peace. Strengthening the whole-of-multilateral-system is key to comprehensively address the root causes of conflicts, including poverty and underdevelopment. Rest assured of Indonesia’s commitment to that end.

I now give the floor to the representative of Kazakhstan.

At the outset, I would like to commend the delegation of Guyana for convening this timely and important debate. We convey our appreciation to Secretary-General António Guterres, Assistant Secretary- General Kanni Wignaraja of the United Nations Development Programme, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for their thorough briefings. Kazakhstan firmly believes that there is no sustainable peace without sustainable development and, equally, no sustainable development without peace. That nexus is not merely theoretical. It is a reality for millions around the world. Many conflicts are directly linked to insufficient development, rooted in extreme The Security Council, while fulfilling its mandate, needs to bolster a comprehensive and cohesive United Nations effort to prevent violent conflict. That includes supporting economic, social and political transformations, protecting development gains during active conflicts and promoting long-term transitions to prevent a return to violence. As the concept note highlights, every dollar invested in prevention can save a significant amount in conflict-related costs, but most importantly, that investment saves human lives. That clearly demonstrates that tackling poverty and underdevelopment is indeed a powerful tool for conflict prevention. Kazakhstan therefore calls for enhanced cooperation between the Security Council and other relevant United Nations organs, such as the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. That synergy is crucial to effectively address the deep-rooted factors that drive and sustain protracted violent conflicts. As a practical step, we suggest that members of the Economic and Social Council be included in the Security Council’s field missions to subsequently work on socioeconomic issues in the respective countries. We must also strengthen our early warning and conflict analysis capabilities to better understand the diverse root causes of conflict and ensure that our decisions and mandates are informed by those crucial insights. Recognizing that the causes of conflict vary across regions, it is vital to support tailored, region-specific approaches. In that context, the establishment of the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan, in Almaty, stands as a testament to the commitment of Central Asian nations to advancing peace and stability through sustainable development and joint action. In conclusion, as we approach the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations, and in the light of the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1) and the Secretary-General’s UN80 Initiative, let us recommit to a comprehensive, holistic approach that prioritizes prevention and sustainable development as the bedrock of international peace and security. Kazakhstan stands ready to contribute to those vital efforts.

I now give the floor to the representative of Austria.

The saying that there can be no peace without development and no development without peace may sound like a closed loop, or perhaps even a vicious cycle. But history teaches us that cycles can be broken, and we have seen that transformation is possible. We have seen that globally in many countries around the world, and we have also seen it in our own country in Austria. As we mark the eightieth anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, it is time to reaffirm the vision of a world in which peace and sustainable development are not parallel tracks, but shared and inseparable goals. Let me briefly highlight three points. First, development is prevention. Conflicts do not arise in a vacuum. They often grow in the cracks of broken institutions, deep inequality and despair. Investing in development is not a luxury. It is actually a cost-effective imperative. And I am not Secondly, investing in peacebuilding is key. We therefore remain committed to global peacebuilding. Adding to the $29 million that Austria has given to the United Nations multi-partner trust fund over the past five years, we recently contributed a further $1 million to the Peacebuilding Fund and hosted a retreat to support the 2025 review of the peacebuilding architecture. We see that review not as an exercise in reinvention, but as an opportunity to operationalize what works. We call on all Member States to develop national prevention strategies and share them with the Peacebuilding Commission. Finally, peacekeeping can significantly contribute to development. As a contribution to peacebuilding efforts, more than 100,000 Austrians have served as peacekeepers around the world since 1960. That includes missions in the Middle East, such as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, where our largest contingent is currently based, and others in the Western Balkans, Africa and Cyprus. And we will continue to be a reliable partner in that regard. These are challenging times, but in challenging times, we do not retreat, we recommit. As the former Director General of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed El Baradei, once said, confidence cannot be imposed. It must be built patiently, through transparency, dialogue, and a commitment to shared values. Let us build that confidence together.

I now give the floor to the representative of Luxembourg.

Luxembourg aligns itself with the statement to be delivered on behalf of the European Union. I would like to add a few comments in my national capacity. I congratulate Guyana on organizing this high-level open debate as part of its presidency of the Council. The theme that it selected, namely, the link between poverty and conflict, is of great importance as we celebrate the eightieth anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations and its promise to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, and as we have five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The Security Council has made it clear that security, development and human rights are closely linked, mutually reinforcing and essential to establishing lasting peace. Luxembourg recognizes that link and reaffirms its commitment to effective multilateralism based on human rights and social justice. My country continues to devote 1 per cent of its gross national income to official development assistance. We support programmes in the social, education and health sectors in order to help our partner countries build prosperous, peaceful and inclusive societies. We regard that long-term investment in sustainable development as an investment in peace and security. Many United Nations agencies are in the process of drawing up their strategic plans for the period 2026–2029. Luxembourg advocates the systematic integration of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus into those plans. In general, it is necessary to strengthen coordination within the United Nations system. As part of the UN80 Initiative launched by the Secretary-General, we are called upon to make the Organization’s action more coherent, more effective and closer to the populations it serves. In the context of the implementation of the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1) and the review of the peacebuilding architecture, The PBC must be better able to fulfil its role as an advisory body to the Council. The work of the Council can only benefit from the advice of the PBC, which sheds light on the root causes of conflict, including poverty. More regular exchanges will strengthen the consideration of peacebuilding and development in peace operations, in particular when designing their mandates, in accordance with resolution 2594 (2021) on transitions. Luxembourg continues to provide voluntary contributions to the Peacebuilding Fund and supports the strengthening of its financing through United Nations assessed contributions. In order to establish lasting peace and prevent conflicts, regional organizations, international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society have a key role to play. It is important to create opportunities for young people, who make up a growing proportion of the population in developing countries, particularly in Africa. To be sustainable, peacebuilding must involve society as a whole. The inclusion and participation of women, young people, children and vulnerable and marginalized groups is essential. The Security Council must also listen to their voices. Luxembourg will continue to work alongside its partners for a fairer, safer and more united world, in keeping with the spirit and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Philippines.

The Philippines congratulates Guyana for convening this timely high-level open debate and thanks the Secretary-General and speakers for their valuable briefings. The Security Council has recognized the mutually reinforcing linkages between peace, security and development. Indeed, there can be no peace without sustainable development. We are deeply concerned that only 17 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track. That underscores the need for the international community to deliver on and safeguard development cooperation, particularly the eradication of poverty. The Philippines emphasizes the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict. Poverty, inequality and underdevelopment are not merely economic issues; they are drivers of instability and demand a holistic and collective response. We therefore welcome the convening of the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and urge development partners to scale up their support for the fulfillment of the SDGs, especially in developing countries in conflict and post- conflict situations. At the same time, there can be no lasting development without peace and security. That principle is enshrined in our national security policy and national development plan. The Philippine Government mainstreams peacebuilding and development hand-in-hand, utilizing a conflict-sensitive and peace-promoting paradigm, in geographically isolated and conflict-affected communities in particular. The Philippines values inclusive and participatory governance. Involving all stakeholders is key to bringing about enduring and empowering solutions, including through the engagement of women and youth in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The women and peace and security agenda remains vital in that regard. The Philippines also encourages closer collaboration among the Security Council and other United Nations organs and bodies, development actors and regional organizations, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, while respecting individual mandates. Coordination with the General Assembly, the Peacebuilding Commission, the Economic and Social Council and the United Nations development system can foster more integrated responses that address both security challenges and development priorities. That would be important for United Nations Missions on the ground, working with regional offices and country teams, delivering complementary support for peace, development and human rights. That is crucial for the United Nations moving forward, as we commemorate its eightieth anniversary. In conclusion, the Philippines reaffirms its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and supports the work of the Security Council to maintain inclusive, sustainable and resilient international peace and security, anchored in the Charter of the United Nations and the rule of international law.

There are still a number of speakers remaining on my list for this meeting. Given the lateness of the hour, I intend, with the concurrence of the members of the Council, to suspend the meeting until 3 p.m.